Moistening or damping device.



No. 655,604, Patented Aug. 7, |900.

E. CAVERLY. MOISTENING 0R DAMFING DEVICE.

(Application led Oct. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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Nirnn STATES PATENT Ferca,

EDWARD cAvERLY, oF MILWAUKEE, wisconsin;

Mols'Tl-:NlNG- on DAM PING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,604, dated August '7, 1900. Application filed October 11,1899. Serial Ilo. 733,295. @lo model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD CAVERLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the cou ntyof Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Moistening or Damping Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates` 'to moistening or damping devices for offices or general use.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient, cleanly, and natural means for damping or moistening envelops and other wrappers, as well as for stamps of various kinds, preparatory to sealing or stamping, or both, and for any other practical use requiring the damping or moistening of a gummy surface for the purpose of sticking or afxing the same to another surface and whereby the damping or moistening pads are protected from dust or vermin through the medium of metallic plates or guards.

The invention consists in certain combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of my invention ready for use. Fig. 2 is a section on the line c x of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail in plan of the stamp-moistener, and Fig. 4 is an inverted plan or bottom view of the envelop-moistener.

lis a water vessel or reservoir having a broad base, one wall of the body extending at an angle backward to a point whereit forms a half-circle and continues thence at a slight an gie downward and forward to the front'and thence upward to provide a ledge or shelf 2. The top of the vessel or reservoir is provided with grooves or ways 8 8, and the vessel is closed by means of a slide 4 working in said ways. The slide itself is also provided with ways 5 5, in which a slide 6 reciprocates for uncovering the stamp-moistener, consisting of anely-perforated plate 7 The lower wall of the shelf 2 is foraminated, as shown at 8, and constitutes the exposed surface of the pad for moistening envelops or other wrappers. This downwardly-facing pad furnishes means for conveniently applying moisture to gummy surfaces by an upward and forward movement toward the operator.

Vithin the upper part of the reservoir or casing and above the shelf 2 is a block 9 of wood or other suitable porous material, and leading around this block and over the upper surface of the perforated shelf 8 is an en'dless wick lO, consisting of any suitable ab-y sorbent substance,l as felt'or netted fabric or the like. Above the block 9 is itted another block ll of any suitable substance, but by preference close-grained hard wood or of hard rubber or of such metallic or other substance as will not rust or corrode by mois# ture. This block Il is provided with a passage or opening from the rear (near the bot tom) upward and in an angular direction till it strikes the upper corner of the block at the front and top of the vessel, and through said opening a second endless wick 12 is led. This wick extends over the upper surface of the block and beneath-and in contact with the finely-perforated stamp-moistening plate 7.

lVhen the Ydevice is not being used, the stamp-moistening plate is covered and pro tected by means of the slide 6.

Both wicks l0 and l2 in passing around blocks 9 and Il to and from the water in the vessel are controlled by a guide affixed to the angular wall of the vessel to prevent the lioating of the immersed ends. The wicks l0 and 12, the basis ot' the moisteuing-pads, being protected by a perforated metal or wire-gauze covering, are not only relieved from friction, but to a great extent from an accumulation of gum or mucilage, which is imparted by close and frequent contact in operation. In addition thereto the attack of vermin, which such accumulation is likely to invite, is prevented.

The blocks 9 and ll and the wicks l0 and l2 can be readily removed and new Wicks inserted by first removing the slide orcover 4, or, being endless, their position can be shifted from time to time for soaking out in the water in the reservoir.

By this construction a convenient envelop or wrapper moistener is produced, the water being taken from the reservoir by capillary attraction and being carried above the per! forated shelf 8 the pad is always in a moist condition ready for use. The wick l2 also by capillary attraction absorbs and carries moisture up over the block 1l in contact with the IOO wire-gauze or thin perforated plate 7 and constantly maintains it in a moist condition for dampening or moistening stamps.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A moistening device involving the combination of a vessel having a broad base, a substantially horizontal, finely perforated projecting ledge or shelf, an absorbent wick leading over the perforated, horizontal shelf and a block for holding the wick in contact with the shelf, substantially as described.

2. A moistening device involving the combination of a vessel having a broad base and a projecting horizontal perforated wall, a wick arranged above the perforated wall, means for holding the wick spread over the horizontal wall, a second perforated plate on the top of the vessel, and a second wick leading from reservoir beneath the top perforated plate, substantially as described.

3. In a moistening device the combination of a vessel having a projecting ledge or shelf with under surface finely perforated, a Wick rleading from the lower part of the vessel over said perforated surface and means for guiding and holding the wick in contact with the Vinner surface of the ledge.

4. In moistening devices, the combination of a vessel having a broad base, blocks arranged within the vessel, wicks arranged to pass above one of the blocks and beneath the other, a sliding cover carrying a finely-perforated plate, and a slide carried by said cover for covering and protecting the top perforated plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presencey of two witnesses. n Y

EDWARD CAVERLY.

Vitnesses:

D. DELBERT BRIGGS, JOSEPH WILD. 

